Born in Perth Amboy, he grew up in New Brighton and had lived in Dongan Hills for two years.

Rev. Richardson was a mental health therapy aide at South Beach Psychiatric Center for 20 years.

The McKee High School graduate studied ministry in a state chaplaincy program. He and his wife, the Rev. Grace Richardson, founded Powerhouse, which meets at Snug Harbor Cultural Center in Livingston, in 1994.

He co-founded Community Growth Opportunity at Powerhouse in 2001 to provide housing and job training for women and assistance to victims of domestic abuse.

Rev. Richardson was a member of the Staten Island Association of Evangelicals, a chaplain for the United Chaplains of the State of New York, and a mentor and chaplain at Rikers Island and for the Salvation Army's adult services program.

"I first met Rev. Norman Richardson and his lovely wife, Grace, 15 years ago. They were serving at a storefront church on Jersey Street down the block from my house," said the Rev. David Beidel, president of the Staten Island Association of Evangelicals.

"From my first encounter with Norman, to my last, he has been a man of grace and peace, love and joy, passion and persistence. There are very few men who have resembled Christ as clearly as Rev. Norman Richardson," Rev. Beidel said.

Known for his sense of humor, Rev. Richardson had a personal ministry called the Bishop of Comedy.

"He often used humor to get serious points across," said his wife. "His vision was that 2 million souls would be won through his ministry."

Also surviving are his sons, Jucquin, Seneca, Norman Jr., William, Jamel and Matthew Richardson; his daughters, Schnique and Amron Richardson; his parents, Norman and Marjorie Richardson; two brothers, Rodney and Gary; four sisters, JoAnn, Kathleen, Jacki and Michelle, and six grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, La Norm Richardson, who died in 2005.

The funeral service will be tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. in the International Christian Center, Graniteville. Arrangements are being handled by the Stradford Funeral Home, Tompkinsville.